- Rule of thirds: place your subject along a 3x3 grid line or intersection, rather than dead-center, for a more balanced result.
- Leading lines: roads, fences, edges — anything drawing the eye through the frame toward your subject.
- Framing: use elements within the scene (a doorway, branches) to frame your subject and add depth.
- Negative space: empty space isn't wasted — it gives the eye room to rest and can isolate a subject.
- Symmetry and patterns: the eye is drawn to repetition, and equally to whatever breaks it.
- Foreground/midground/background: layering depth (especially in landscapes) creates scale and pulls the viewer in.
Don't try to apply all six to every shot. Pick one or two to focus on deliberately each time you shoot, until they happen without thinking — that's when composition becomes instinct instead of a checklist.